A journey through time and nature: The Civic Museum of Natural History of Trieste

The Civic Museum of Natural History of Trieste stands as one of the city’s most significant cultural gems, boasting a history deeply rooted in the past — its foundation dating back to 1846. This makes it not only an institution of great prestige but also one of the oldest natural history museums in Italy. It is a place where the fascination of discovery meets an extraordinary wealth of collections that skillfully span the realms of botany, zoology, mineralogy, geology, and paleontology.

The museum’s exhibition is divided into various sections, each guiding visitors through a fascinating scientific and educational journey. Here, one can explore the evolution of life on Earth, the biodiversity that inhabits our planet, and the geological and mineralogical features that define the surrounding territory. Its collections — true encyclopedias of nature — include over two million specimens, a testament to a heritage that draws from both the Friuli Venezia Giulia region and far corners of the globe.

Among its exhibition areas are the botanical collections, which include a vast range of herbaria of vascular plants, algae, and mosses, along with xylotheques, spermotheques, and carpotheques preserving wood, seeds, and fruits. The zoological collections offer an extraordinary glimpse into global fauna: from marine and freshwater fish, often preserved in liquids, to amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals from all continents. Particularly remarkable are the entomological collections, with over 500,000 specimens, including subterranean insects inhabiting the mysterious caves of the Karst Plateau. Of immense scientific value is the mineralogical and paleontological section, a true treasure chest of minerals, rocks, and fossils, renowned for the rarity and uniqueness of its specimens. The section dedicated to human evolution is equally captivating, showcasing casts of important fossils and local finds that trace the complex and fascinating history of early humankind.

The Civic Museum of Natural History of Trieste is internationally renowned for housing several exceptional specimens that make it an essential destination for anyone passionate about science and discovery. Towering among them is “Antonio,” the Tethyshadros insularis, the largest and most complete dinosaur skeleton ever found in Italy, and one of Europe’s most significant paleontological discoveries. This hadrosaur, measuring about four meters long and 1.3 meters tall, lived around 75 million years ago and was unearthed at the Villaggio del Pescatore site, near Trieste. No less impressive is “Carlotta,” the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), a magnificent specimen measuring 5.4 meters, caught in the Gulf of Quarnaro in 1906 — still the largest preserved shark in any European museum.

The museum also preserves the mandible of the Man of Lonche, a 6,400-year-old human fossil that bears the oldest known dental filling made with beeswax — a stunning testimony to prehistoric medical knowledge. For anthropology enthusiasts, the museum also displays casts of world-famous hominid fossils, including the celebrated “Lucy,” one of the most complete and ancient skeletons of Australopithecus afarensis. Among other wonders is a specimen of Latimeria (the coelacanth), a fascinating “living fossil fish” considered one of the oldest surviving species, as well as Quaternary fauna remains, including complete Cave Bear skeletons. The museum also features rare exotic species such as the Okapi and the only preserved Siemen Ibex.

With a strong focus on accessibility, the museum offers simplified educational materials with symbols and visual aids, making information easy to read and understand, ensuring an inclusive experience for visitors with intellectual disabilities. In addition to its extensive exhibits, the museum hosts a specialized scientific library and regularly organizes conferences and events dedicated to the natural and scientific world, confirming its role as a vibrant center of culture and research.

Address: Via dei Tominz, 4, Trieste

Opening hours:

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: Closed
• Wednesday–Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00

Tickets:

• Full price: €6.00
• Reduced: €4.00

Contacts:

• Phone: +39 040 675 4603

Website: www.museostorianaturaletrieste.it

Cover photo credits: Official website